Originally Posted by
StuckInYYZ
This could be due to a whole number of reasons, however, I really don't understand why Apple doesn't develop beacons that could be put in strategic places that would pick up air tags and send an update. Put a few wired units in the bowels of the airport where the luggage is handled (you aren't necessarily guaranteed a signal in this area) and voila, you're helping your users. Hotels and shopping malls would also be good candidates for this. I have a few tags that I ask my parents and other elderly relatives to carry on them. They know what the tags are for and trust that I won't use them to trace them unless necessary. Luckily this hasn't been required, but for a little investment, I know how to find my loved ones and if I have to track them, and if there were beacons of some sort that would help, that'd be even better.
That does seem to be quite useful, but maybe it is not worth the cost right now for them to invest in these beacons. Apple did post an article on their site on May 5 - Apple and Google lead initiative for an industry specification to address unwanted tracking. So maybe they are also waiting for more industry standardization or better cost-benefit for them to do it.